Turnbuckle



Jan. 5, 1932. A. CANTU 1,839,533

TURNBUCKLE Filed Dec. 27, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Inventor g /;2 1c77'0Cami a A tiomey Jan. 5, 1932. ACANTU 1,839,533

TURNBUCKLE Filed Dec. 27. 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor AttorneyPatented Jan. 5, 1932 ALEJANDRO CANTU', OF PONTIAC, MICHIGAN TURNBUCKLEApplication filed December 27,1929. Serial No. 416,925.

This invention relates to turn buckles and particularly to devices ofthis character which are to be used in the construction of aircrafts butit is to be understood that a turn-buckle constructed in accordance withthisinvention may be used for any purpose for which the same is foundadapted.

An important object of the invention, is to provide, in a manner'ashereinafter set forth,

a turn buckle of the aforementioned character which includes a novelconstruction of pins and a locking means mounted on the turnbuckle and'en 'ageable with said pins in a manner to absolutely prevent theaccidental displacement thereof due to wear, vibration or from any othercause.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a turnbuckle of theaforementioned character which will be simple in construction, strong,durable, efficient in its use and which may be manufactured at low cost.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the invention willbecome apparent from a study of the following specification, taken inconnection with the accompa-nying drawings, wherein like characters ofreference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views,and wherein Figure 1 is a view in front elevation of a turnbuckleconstructed in accordance with this invention, and the special toolwhich I have provided for mounting the locking means in position thereonbeing shown.

Figure 2 is a view in side elevation thereof.

Figure 3 is a view in vertical longitudinal section taken substantiallyon the line 33 of Figure 2. V

Figure 4 is a view in horizontal section through the threaded portion ofthe turn buckle rod showing the manner of mounting the special toolthereon.

Figure 5 is a detail view in perspective of the turnbuckle with the pinsand rod removed therefrom.

Figure 6 is adetail view in perspective of the substantially U-shapedpin latching or locking element.

Figure 7 is an enlarged detail view in perspective of the pin.

Figure 8 is a detail view in perspective of the lock nut which isthreaded on the rod for engagement with the turnbuckle.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the reference character 1designates an elongated rod which, in aircraft construction, may be a 5istrut rod or wire having the threaded end portion 2 upon which isthreadedly engaged the tubular sleeve 3 which terminates in the spacedparallel, opposed furcations 4 the upper end portions of which areprovided with the horizontally aligned eyes 5 through which extendstransversely the connecting pin 6. The pin 6 isprovided, on one end,with an enlarged head 7 to limit the inward movement of said pin throughthe eyes 5. Adjacent the head 7 and the opposite ends thereof, said pinis further provided with the annular grooves or channels 8 which aredisposed on the outer sides of the furcations 4 when the pin is inposition. '70

A substantially U-shaped metallic keeper 9 is slidably mounted on therod 1 through the medium of the apertured connecting portion 10 whichencircles said rod in a manner to permit longitudinal movement of thekeeper thereon. The free end portions of the legs 11 of the keeper 9'are provided with the aligned openings 12 for thepassage of the pin 6,as elearlyillustrated in Figures 1 and 3 of the drawings. Adjacent theirpoint of connectionwith the tubular sleeve 3 the furcations 4 are curvedoutwardly to provide a shoulder or abutment. An expansible coil spring13 encircles the sleeve 3 and the adj acent portion of the rod 1 and hasone end impinged on the curved inner portions of the furcations 4 andthe other end impinged against the connecting portion 10 of the keeper 9for yieldingly urging said keeper inwardly on the rod. A look nut 14 isthreaded on the rod 1 for engagement with the inner end of the sleeve 3for locking said sleeve in adjusted position on said rod. As clearlyillustrated in Figure 3 of the drawings, the walls of the openings 12 ofthe keeper 9 are adapted to seat in'the channels or grooves 8 of the pin6, and said pin is thus securely held in position in accidentaldisplacement by reason of the coil spring 13 forcing said keeperlongitudinally with respect to the pin and the which are resilientlyconnected together at one end through the medium of the loop 16.

Intermediate their ends, the inner faces of the arms 15 are providedwith the opposed co-acting threaded recesses 17 adapted for threadedengagement with the threaded por tion 2 of the rod 1. The inner sides ofthe arms 15 are flat. The special tool is mounted in position on the rodby spreading the arms apart and sliding the same thereover until saidrod is disposed in the recess 17 and the tool will be maintained thereonby its inherent resiliency. In this position the opposite ends of thearms may be used in the manner of levers for the purpose of rotating thetool on the rod for engaging the keeper 9 and forcing the same outwardlyagainst the tension of the coil spring 13, as will be apparent. It willthus be seen that I have provided a turnbuckle wherein the chance of thepin becoming lost or displaced accidentally therefrom is reduced to aminimum.

It is believed that the many advantages of a turnbuckle constructed inaccordance with this invention will be readily understood, and

channels of the pin for preventing longi tudinal movement of said pinthrough the end portions of the keeper encircling the pin and seated inthe channels therein for preventing longitudinal movement of said pin intheopening, and an expansible coil spring encircling the sleeve and theadjacent portion of the rod and having one end impinged against thefurcations of said sleeve and the opposite end impinged with theconnecting portion of the keeper, for yieldingly urging said keeperinwardly with respect to the rod.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

, ALEJANDRO CANTU.

' although the preferred embodiment of the invention is as illustratedand described, it is to be understood that changes in the details ofconstruction may be had which will fall within the scope of theinvention as claimed.

hat is claimed is t- 1. A turnbuckle of the character describedcomprising a rod having a'bifurcated sleeve threaded thereon, thefurcations of said sleeve being provided, adjacent their free ends, withaligned openings, a pin extending through the openings having channelstherein adjacent the outer "sides of the furcations and a springcontrolled keeper slidably mounted on the rod having end portionsengaged in the channels of the pin in a manner to prevent longitudinalmovement of said pin through the opemngs.

2. A turnbuckle of the character described comprising a rod having abifurcated sleeve threaded thereon, the furcations of said sleeve beingprovided, adjacent their free ends, with aligned openings, a headed pinextending through the openings having channels adj acent its oppositeend disposed adjacent the outer side of the furcations and asubstantially U-shaped metallic spring-controlled keeper slidablymounted on the rod and having its opposite end portion engaged in the

